Straight Talk from the Mom

Sex Radar

2007-02-15T09:51:00.000-06:00

Ahhhh...Valentine's Day. A day of love, a day of romance. I enjoyed a lovely dinner at the local Turkish restaurant this year with my wonderful husband of nearly 17 years. We had a nice dinner and a chance to visit without the interruptions of the children. We exchanged gifts - chocolate, a candle and a lovely card for me; a card and a movie for him.

We came home and let Nana leave so we could continue the evening...if you know what I mean. Then the sweet, blissful sleep that follows.

For two hours. For, you see, my children have SEX RADAR! Yes, you read it correctly. If Wayne and I happen to enjoy each other, at some point within the next two to three hours, one of the kids will wake up. This time, it was Edie. And it wasn't just a wake-up. It was a wake-up with vomiting. Thankfully, it was a one-time occurrence and she returned to sleep afterward. Sweet, blissful sleep wasn't so fast to return to Wayne and me. The post-sex sleep spell had been broken.

There's always tonight...

Pissy

2007-01-27T22:12:00.000-06:00

I'm feeling pissy today. And I felt pissy yesterday. And I'll probably feel pissy tomorrow.

I just want people to leave me alone. In fact, I left my house this afternoon for a quiet lunch by myself and was happily standing in line to get my Chinese food fix when MIL called and kept me on the phone for nearly 30 minutes describing the problems she sees in my husband's recent parenting skills. 30 minutes. When we got off the phone I felt like going someplace quiet and dark and crying. Not because Wayne's been outrageously bad. Just because I'm feeling pissy and anti-social. Oh, and she asked me to *not* say anything to Wayne - she wants to talk to him about it. She just wanted to let me know what was on her mind. After I told her I was having a quiet time alone. Thanks.

I'm feeling pissy.

Happy Birthday, Big Boy!

2006-12-28T22:56:00.000-06:00

The boy who made me a mommy turned 7 today. I cooked cinnamon rolls (his new favorite) for breakfast today, he played with his sisters for a bit. He chose McDonald's for lunch, so we picked up Pop and headed off to the kids' favorite McD's - the one next to the Zoo with the zoo theme. As McDonald's go, it's one of the nicest I've been in. Then he chose to visit the Museum of Natural History as his birthday outing. We all had a good time, then headed back home.

He was surprised to find a card in the mail with $20 in it. Pop's grandparents sent it to the boy, so we called them. He told Grandma Bertie, "It's like I'm a king! I got to pick everything we did today." What more could a mom ask for? He felt like a king today.

It's hard to believe 7 years have passed since that Christmas when we waited for his arrival. The labor was long and not so easy. In fact, when I was admitted into the hospital to have my second child, I cried because his labor and delivery was so bad (for the record, hers was so much better!). But it was worth it. He's a loving guy, he cares about his sisters and he tries to be a good kid. He's smart as a whip and calls himself a "Brainiac". He's the best boy I could have asked for.

Have a Holly-Jolly Christmas

2006-12-20T22:06:00.000-06:00

It's been a while since I posted here - shame on me. I guess life gets in the way of blogging sometimes. And what do I have to say that's so interesting and important? Surely I'm not the only one who feels that way...

Anyway, Christmas will soon be upon us. Only 5 days away now. I've got all of my shopping done, with the exception of one gift card and some tamales for Christmas Eve at my house. We've decided to go with a Mexican-food theme for dinner that night. Should be pretty tasty!

Santa...are my kids the only ones who've got this thing figured out? They know that they can act bad and not obey, but still get presents. And I don't have the heart to not give them gifts. I guess after Christmas, they will have to learn to try a little harder to get the things they want.

Of course, the fact that my son's birthday is the 28th doesn't help any, either. He'll be 7. I can't believe it. Seven years ago, I was newly unemployed and anxiously awaiting his arrival. After all those years of saying how horrible it would be to have a Christmas birthday (like my sister, whose birthday is today!), we ended up with a Christmas-birthday son. Guess we weren't thinking about that back in March of 1999...

I have to admit, I'm updating my blog because I found a link to myself on someone else's blog. Who knew? I knew that I was linked on a friend's blog, but this person is a stranger to me. So I guess I better get back on the blogging stick and find something interesting to share more often.

All By Myself...

2006-10-02T22:20:00.000-05:00

Twenty-four hours alone. One whole day. How would I wile away the hours?

Twenty-four hours alone would include:

-At least 1 hot bath
-A manicure and possibly a pedicure
-Sleeping in a big, fluffy bed
-Sleeping LATE in the afore-mentioned bed
-Napping in the bed
-Reading in the bed
-Three great meals, not interrupted by anyone asking for more milk or bitching about what is on their plates
-Maybe taking in a movie or two

I think the best thing about having 24 hours alone would be the ability to do whatever I want, regardless of whether anyone else wanted to. Coming and going as I wished. Doing things I took for granted before I got married or had kids...

A No-Good, Very Bad Week

2006-09-07T14:03:00.000-05:00

Labor Day - this week was supposed to be a great one. Labor Day marks the end of summer. The day after Labor Day is my youngest's first day of Mother's Day Out for the fall. Twice a week, I'm footloose and kid-free.

Or so I was supposed to be.

Instead, I was awakened at 4:30 to the sounds of Toot-a-loo being sick to her stomach. The sickness carried on until late that evening. So much for Mother's Day Out.

Then, yesterday, my dad was in a motorcycle accident. On the motorcycle my husband gave to him. He was flown to the hospital - they were afraid of a head injury. Not a good way to start the day. Thankfully, he'll be fine. A few stitches here, a few staples there, and he's back home.

I thought I was in the clear until I picked up the big kids from school. Joseycat had gotten sick 30 minutes before I arrived, and continued to throw up through the evening.

The final straw was when Mr. Wyatt threw up around 8:30.

Oh, and dear hubby is off on a motorcycle ride through the northeast. God, I love being a mom.

I Love You

2006-09-05T12:31:00.000-05:00

Three little words. We've said them to each other more times than I can imagine over the last 19 years. Many times as we're getting off the phone, walking out the door, falling asleep.

For some reason, though, when he said it that morning...the first three words out of his mouth that day...it stuck with me. Do you speak your heart when you're still in that semi-dreamlike state as you're waking up? I choose to believe so.

And those three little words that morning meant more to me than hearing them so many times over the last 19 years. He really does love me. And I love him.

5 Short Years

2006-08-15T22:44:00.000-05:00

Five short years ago, I had just given birth for the second time. I was a mom to a baby girl, and her big brother was at home waiting to meet her.

Five short years ago, I had no idea what life would hold for us. I didn't know that she would have an artistic ability that passes my own at her young age. That she would live life passionately, greedily taking all she can get. That she would make me crazy with her loud, brash personality...that she would be so much like me, and yet so different.

That girl wears me out sometimes, but I can't imagine my life without her.

Five short years ago, I had no idea.

Happy birthday, big girl.

Back to Reality

2006-07-16T22:18:00.000-05:00

So we're back from our vacation. We had the sick kid last week to prove it! Thankfully, he's over that and back to his onery self.

Anyway, it's official. Wayne and I can still have fun and still have things to talk about, even though we've had very few un-interrupted conversations at home since December 28, 1999.

We drove over 3,500 miles in just over a week. We went from Dallas to Albuquerque, NM the first day. Then it was one adventure after another. We visted prehistoric Indian homes at Chaco Culture National Historic Park, saw the effects of forest fire at Mesa Verde National Park, viewed the stark beauty of southeastern Utah, and the awesome beauty of Arches, Canyonlands, Bryce Canyon and the Grand Canyon. We even made a stop at the world-famous Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas (and I discovered how satisfying it is to spray-paint things!).

We stayed all but two nights in the camper you see in the slideshow below. It was cozy, but fun - our little love nest. The other two nights were spent at a cabin outside the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and inside the Grand Canyon at a beautiful cabin. We lucked into the cabin in the park because there had been forest fires in the Kaibab Forest that had closed the roads leading to the North Rim, up until the day before we arrived. Luckily for us, people had canceled their reservations and made room for us to extend our stay by a day.

It wasn't the luxury trip we had both hoped for, but it was great to spend time together. Hanging out and sharing inside jokes. Doing silly stuff and acting like a couple - not parents. Can't wait to do it again.

The Countdown's On

2006-06-26T00:02:00.000-05:00

Only two days to go before we head off on the Westward Adventure! My father-in-law showed us the ins and outs of the Casita tonight. Hope we can remember everything. It's a small camper, but very cozy.

I'm a little concerned about heading west, due to the raging fires out there. The entrance to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon was closed down for a bit yesterday, and that's right where we're heading. I guess I should see it as even more of an adventure, if we'll be able to see the things we're setting off for! I think it'll be okay, though. I'm not gonna get stressed about it. We'll just go with the flow.

On a lighter note, today my baby turned 3. Three years ago, I went to the hospital in the hopes of moving the labor into gear, and 3 hours later I had a baby. A c-section wasn't exactly my plan, but when the doctor tells you that things don't look good for a traditional labor, you do what they say. Thank goodness we did - girlie would not have survived labor. When the doctor opened me up, he confirmed that there was hardly any amniotic fluid in there with my girl. Looking back on the last three years, I hate to think of her not being here with us. Having three kids can be trying at times, and sometimes I want to run away, but the thought of not seeing her dimpled grin and hearing her "Meow" to me in the mornings is unbearable. She's the baby I got to enjoy. I didn't have a newborn at her 2-year checkup, as I did with her big brother and big sister. I get to savor her toddler years instead of flying blind through them like I did with the other two.

It makes me feel guilty sometimes when I think of what I don't remember or probably missed with the "big kids", but then I remember that they have two siblings who love them and will always be there for them. I guess as a parent, you're always second-guessing yourself. I'm just gonna believe I did the best I could for all of them. And the fact that they're only 3 1/2 years apart from the oldest to the youngest is something that they will appreciate as they get older.

So I'm off, to explore new places. And to take a good look at my two older kids and breathe them in as they are now. Commit their quirks, likes, dislikes, everything about them, to memory. They'll only be this age once.

Conversation-us Non-Interrupt-us

2006-06-21T21:24:00.000-05:00

Wayne and I celebrated our 15th anniversary on the 8th. Seems like yesterday we were in study hall together, showing each other our "serious" wink. Four short years later we were taking that walk down the aisle.

It hasn't always been easy, but it's been worth the work. Wayne is a great guy. I can count on him to be there for me when I need him, he loves our kids and is kind and patient with them (well, as patient as you can expect a father of 3 to be!), he gives me pretty much anything I want.

So we're taking a week-long trip to celebrate our anniversary. Without the kids (thanks, mom and mother-in-law!). A whole week of non-interrupted conversations. What will we do? Will we have a full conversation? It's mind-boggling to think about.

The trip will be a new experience all around. We're pulling Wayne's mom's Casita travel trailer. It looks like this photo. You might notice it's pretty small. So small that the shower is over the toilet. Should be an interesting week.

We're heading out West. From Dallas to Albuquerque, to southwestern Colorado, southeastern Utah, and the Grand Canyon. We'll be staying KOA campgrounds along the way, with the exception of a night at a lodge near the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Neither of us has been to any of the national parks we're headed to this week, so I'm really looking forward to seeing new parts of the United States.

And to uninterrupted conversations.

Summertime, and the livin' is...

2006-06-12T20:56:00.000-05:00

BUSY! Summer Fun for the kids, Vacation Bible School, swim lessons, karate, piano lessons...when does it end? When does the fun start? I guess within the next week or two, when we settle into the routine.

Driving down the road today, I just felt the best feeling of happiness. It is summertime. The skies are blue, it's hotter than friggin' hell outside, all of the kids are out of diapers and we can be footloose and fancy-free. I love it. I always hated working in the spring and summer. I thought up every reason to not go to work. And now I get to stay home with the kiddos. It's all I thought it would be (and sometimes more, but that's another post).

Busy or not, it's summertime and I'm loving it!

This, That and the Other

2006-04-26T21:30:00.000-05:00

It's been a while. Sorry - life gets in the way of posting here (and it's not always blog-worthy). Go figure.

I'm single-momming it again. My husband traveled to Chicago this morning to pick up his new motorcycle and is heading here and there, racking up the first 1000+ miles on the bike. He should be home sometime Sunday. I hope he listens to the voice in his head that tells him when it's time to stop and rest. I hope he has a great time and meets new friends and reconnects with family. I hope he comes back refreshed and relaxed.

I'm turning 36 on Monday. It wasn't that long ago that I was turning 16. I had a 1976 Mustang II Ghia waiting on me. It looked kinda like this one, only mine was classier - tan with a dark brown top! I paid for it myself and loved that car. Drove it everywhere and thought I was all that, until the lack of air conditioning did me in when I was 20.

Now I'm going to be 36. I'm a mom of 3, married to my high school sweetheart for nearly 15 years. I drive a "mom" car now, complete with stickers on the back window where my son sits. I may drive a mom car, but I still rock out when running around town. My kids know the words to Ice, Ice, Baby, Jesse's Girl and Intergalactic by the Beastie Boys. My kids rock.

I talked to my son's teacher for a minute today. I'm gonna brag here. She told me immediately how great he's doing in class. She always tells me what a great kid he is (as if she had to convince me). It seems he's been sneaking items from home to give to her. Yesterday it was a Spiderman something. Today it was a box of raisins. She's also got a Matchbox school bus with doors that open and other great treasures. He's a giving boy. And a smart boy. She told me that she's doing testing on the kids to see where they are so far, and he's at the top of his class. And at the top of all of the kindergarten classes. He's a great kid - what more can I say?

The girls are doing great. Middle child, the one who will get all of the marrow out of life, is reading now. She's on book #8 already, in just a few weeks. I'm way proud of her, too. It's amazing to think she'll be in kindergarten next year. It seems like she arrived just yesterday. She's all girl, full of attitude, and as beautiful as can be.

Baby girl is going to be 3 in June. I can't believe she's getting so big. I asked her the other day how she got so cute and her reply was "My Nana gived it to me." I don't know - I think she got it all on her own. Heaven help me.

Scrap 'till you Crap

2006-04-01T08:53:00.000-06:00

I had my twice-annual scrapbook get-away weekend last week. That would be 8 ladies and a traveling scrapbook store, not to mention all of the stuff we bought over 3 days and 3 trips to the local scrapbook store.

I think the trip was a success, though. I did 9 layouts and a book for my son; my friends did up to 23 layouts. If you don't scrapbook, let me tell you that it's a lot of work!

This photo is of only a fraction of the scrapbooking stuff that we had last weekend. Missing from the photo is the row of TV tables covered with paper holders, stacks of bait boxes full of alphabets, 5 different cutting tools, at least 25 different types of alphabets and untold numbers of stamp sets and ink pads! We could get lost and not have to come out for scrapbooking products for a good month.

The best thing about our weekends is the great friendships we get to renew and great laughs we get to share. Our group has a great sense of humor and no topic is off limits. I love having friends like that. They make the down times bearable and the good times better.

Now it's my turn to be home with the kiddos for the weekend. Dear motorcycle-driving hubby is off to White Sands, NM and other points of interest in that state. He sent this photo to me this morning...

He loves riding and it seems to help him clear his mind, which is a good thing for all of us. Safe travels, babe.

Damn Exercise!

2006-03-09T21:59:00.000-06:00

So I got busy this morning and didn't get lunch made for the baby girl. I figured I'd run by the grocery store, pick up a Lunchable and drop it off before I got started on my day.

That was before my friend invited me to go to the gym with her. Let me tell you, going to the gym isn't a regular occurrence for me. I joined the local Recreation Center and have gone a few times, but I'm totally intimidated by many of the machines there. And all of the other people exercising look like they know what they're doing. I feel like a poser. And I knock my iPod off the treadmill when I get excited about the Gorillaz song I'm listening to.

Anyway, I went, I exercised, I felt like I'd accomplished something. Friend and I go our seperate ways and agree to meet up for lunch at noon.

Fast forward to lunchtime. I'm about to park the minivan when the cell phone rings. It's the mother's day out director asking me, "Holly, are you gonna feed your baby today?"

OH, MY GOD. I forgot to get her food and drop it off! After a bunch of apologizing and embarrassed banter from me, she offers to see what they can put together for my baby and I head off to lunch. My friends got a good laugh out of my oversight, and the director was kind about it when I arrived at 2:00 to pick up the girlie. I figure one forgotten lunch in 4+ years of having one or two of my kids at a time attending the school isn't too bad. Is it?

I've Been Tagged!

2006-02-28T10:33:00.000-06:00

So it seems someone besides those who know me (and not everyone who knows me knows I have this blog) acually reads my blog. And it looks like I've been tagged for a new game. Here goes...

Here's the rules:

List seven songs you are into right now. No matter what the genre, whether they have words, or even if they are any good, but they must be songs you're really enjoying now. Post these instructions in your blog along with your seven songs. Then tag seven other people to see what they're listening to.

My songs of the moment are:
1. Dare - Gorillaz
2. I Don't Wanna Know - Sheryl Crow
3. Hey Ladies - Beastie Boys
4. A Man and a Woman - U2
5. Fury - Prince (did anyone else see this on SNL? He totally rocked the house!)
6. Come Dancing - the Kinks
7. Speed of Sound - Coldplay

That was harder than I thought. I don't listen to commercial radio anymore, thanks to my satellite radio in the car and on the Dish at home, so I don't know what's on the radio anymore.

I'm supposed to tag 7 others, but I can only come up with 4:

Redeemed

2006-02-17T15:15:00.000-06:00

No, I'm not talking about a religious conversion. Hubby is almost done painting the kitchen, and he came home Tuesday with the most beautiful, fragrant white roses I've seen in a long time. I'm sure you'll agree - they are wonderful:

He's really a good guy. I shouldn't complain about him. He makes it possible for me to stay home with the kidlets. And for them to go to good schools. And for me to generally play all day if I want to.

Really, I wouldn't trade him for anything...even for a finished kitchen!

What's the Rush?

2006-02-12T20:45:00.000-06:00

So my sister came over in the summer and helped me paint my kitchen cabinets. Hubby was on a motorcycle trip, so we surprised him when he came home.

At the time, I was thinking...Thanksgiving is a good 5 months away. Surely we can paint the walls and get new flooring by then. Right? I mean, it WAS 5 months away.

August came and went. September came and went. October came and went. Thanksgiving was upon us before I knew it, and guess what? Hubby had gone on another 'cycle trip and totaled the bike and broke his finger good enough to require surgery. And the kitchen remained unfinished.

So a couple of nights ago, Hubby (mostly healed up and recently home from an ice-fishing trip with a client) mentions having his client/friend and his family over for dinner sometime. Great idea, I say. Let's do it.

Guess what Hubby did yesterday? You guessed it - he bought paint. And today he took everything off the walls and painted the ceiling. He's doing the walls now. He's asked me to pick out flooring.

Wonder what the rush was???

Who, Me?

2006-01-26T20:21:00.000-06:00

How did this happen? I didn't think anyone really knew I had a blog, much less paid any attention to it.

But here I am. I've been tagged with the 5 Things Game. So here goes:

What were you doing 10 years ago? I was working, we had just closed on our house. We talked about kids, but kept putting it off, and continued to do that for 3 more years.

What were you doing 1 year ago? One year ago...I had a 5 year old, a 3.5 year old and a 1.5 year old. I was adjusting to my husband being a motorcycle rider and being gone regularly. I was learning to let him go without worrying.

Five snacks I enjoy:
1. potato chips
2. Snickers candy bars
3. taco chips and queso
4. movie candy
5. this is hard - I'm not much of a snacker

Five songs to which I know all the lyrics:
1. House of the Rising Sun
2. The Way Young Lovers Do (Van Morrison, Astral Weeks...it'll change your life)
3. I Just Want to Be Your Everything
4. Tax Man
5. Intergalactic

Five things I would do if I were a millionaire:
1. buy a lakehouse for my parents
2. provide for my husband's grandparents
3. move my family to the Texas Hill Country
4. put money away for my kids' educations
5. buy a Mini Cooper

Five bad habits:
1. eating junk food
2. being lazy
3. wasting time
4. procrastinating
5. not picking up after myself (it's not so bad when you're single...not so good when you're married with 3 kids)

Five things I like doing:
1. scrapbooking
2. surfing the net
3. reading...books, magazines, newspaper, whatever
4. hanging with my hubby (and kids, when they're being pleasant)
5. going to the movies

Five things I would never wear, buy or get new again:
1. acid-wash jeans
2. thong panties
3. a bikini
4. platform shoes
5. flavored condoms

Five favorite toys:
1. iPod mini
2. Sirius satellite radio in my car
3. die cutting tools for scrapbooking (QuicKutz, Boss Kut, Sizzix)
4. my Dish Network DVR
5. my spiffy new cell phone

Here’s the deal: Remove the blog in the top spot from the following list and bump everyone up one place. Then add your blog to the bottom slot:

All Hail Suburbia!
Swingin' on a Star
Space Age Housewife
Straight Talk from the Mom

Then select five people to tag:

Wish I could think of another!

That's probably more than you wanted to know about me.

How Dry I Am

2006-01-25T16:01:00.000-06:00

Would you believe it? Since we started locking up the kitchen at night, the kid's been dry every morning. Go figure.

Wish I had more exciting things to share, but nothing worth noting is happening around here. I'm trying to get a handle on my house. I have stuff. Stuff in my bedroom, stuff in the kids' bedrooms, stuff in the closets. I'm on a personal mission to rid my life of stuff. I think that the things I hold on to in my life are a reflection of my interior self. The main rooms of my house aren't in too bad of shape. But the rooms that only my family goes into could use some work.

Maybe that is worth sharing.

Mom's Night Out

2006-01-12T15:16:00.000-06:00

God, I look forward to nights like this. Out with the girls, meeting for dessert then heading to the last movie of the night. Somehow I feel guilty leading up to Mom's Night Out, but it's never enough to keep me home. And after today, definately not.

The boy (6 now) woke up wet AGAIN! I swear, his wetting the bed is making me crazy. He has the cleanest sheets in the house. Cleaner than his sisters', cleaner than mine! I think we've pinpointed the problem, or at least hope we have. He is a midnight snacker. He'll refuse to eat dinner, but will wake up each night to have a snack and (I guess) a gallon of milk. So regardless of the fact that we do the trip to the bathroom at his bedtime and our bedtime, he tanks back up in the middle of the night and is rewarded with a wet bed in the morning. And it doesn't bother him.

But, starting tonight, we'll be locking up the kitchen. No more midnight snacks. He'll be greeted with locked kitchen doors and will have to (gasp!) wait until morning. Cross your fingers that it works.

Oh, and more potty issues - can you stand it? Miss 2 1/2 year old has decided she's ready for panties. In fact, she insisted on panties just minutes ago, after sitting on the pot with no results. Outside she went, 2 minutes later she's pooped in her panties! Oh, and SHE isn't bothered by it, either.

What is up with these kids?

As I'm changing her pants (into a diaper), Middle Child, The One Who Must Talk to Survive, gives me a running commentary about how she doesn't wet the bed or poop in her pants. Oh, it stinks in here. Eww, look at the panties.

Oh, yes, I was talking about Mom's Night Out...should be a good one.

Post-Christmas, Pre-Birthday

2005-12-27T22:05:00.000-06:00

We survived the Christmas season! Wish I could say as much for the tree and my house... The tree looked good for a week or two. Now it looks like it's ready to lay down and call it a day. My house was a complete disaster until about 2 hours ago. I finally called a time-out and commanded the kids to get their stuff out of the livingroom, then vacuumed for probably 30 minutes to get up all of the little bits of paper and other assorted trash. It's amazing what a good going-over will do for a room!

Now, on to the next task. My big boy will be 6 tomorrow. Really, at 3:44 tomorrow morning. I was so excited and nervous on the day he was born. And it was a long day; it all started with my induction at 7am. I was so deluded - I thought it would all be over within a matter of hours. Silly me.

Anyway, he'll be six tomorrow. He's in kindergarten and can read now, even words with 2 vowels. He looks out for his little sisters and helps take care of the littlest one. And tomorrow he'll be one whole hand and then some. I wish him the world, the best of everything, all the happiness he can stand. He's kind and loving - he told us before Christmas that all he really wanted was a good mom and pop, and that he already has them. How could I not love this boy with all my heart?

Happy Birthday

2005-08-15T15:43:00.000-05:00

Today is the older girl's birthday. A trip to Build-A-Bear and nearly $50 later, she's ready for a trip to the Disney store! How did that happen? I guess it all makes sense in a 4-year old brain.

It's hard to believe it's been 4 years since she joined the family. That girl is non-stop and always has been. Let out a gutsy yell when she arrived and is still yelling. And screaming at times.

Happy birthday to her...and heaven help me.

Single Momming it Again

2005-08-13T21:28:00.000-05:00

He's on another motorcycle trip. I'm home another weekend with the kids. How does this keep happening? Not that I begrudge him, but it seems that his trips are much more frequent than mine.

Last night as he was working on packing his stuff, Girl #2 was playing with her baby. Sitting in my glider, rocking the baby, she tells it, "You yucky. You need a baf."

Girl #1 shared with her little sister recently that you should not put your finger in your bottom, because it will make your finger "smell bad." Can't wait to see how their conversations go as the years progress...